Photographic apparatus



13 Sheets-Sheet 3 W. A. KETTLER PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS /Nl EN TOE W/LF/ZED A. KETTLEIZ A TT'L Nov. 28, 1961 Filed June 13, 1956 NovQZS, 1961 w. A. KETTLER 3,010,377

PHOTOGRAPI-IIC APPARATUS Filed June 13, 1956 15 Sheets-Sheet 6 lNl/EN 702 786 M/ILFEEDA. Azrnse 13 Sheets-Sheet 7 hw/EA/roz MLF/em ,4. K6 7-71.52

PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS III III

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Nov. 28, 1961 Filed June 13, 1956 FIG. 20

1951 w. A. KETTLER PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS Filed Jun 13, 1956 15 Sheets-Sheet 8 PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS Filed June 13, 1956 13 Sheets-Sheet 9 lN/E/VTOE MLFRED A. KETTLER er Wrr'x Nov. 28, 1961 Filed June 13, 1956 W. A. KETTLER PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS 13 Sheets-Sheet l2 A 377 6/7 6/6 62 k a llv/s/vrnla Wmmesa A. KETTLER United States Patent 3,010,377 PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS Wilfred A. Kettler, 5752 Degiverville, St. Louis, Mo. Filed June 13, 1956, Ser. No. 591,039 21 Claims. (Cl. 95-93) This invention relates to improvements in photographic apparatus. More particularly, this invention relates to imsolutions. While those machines are usable, they are so expensive that they can be purchased only by persons or organizations doing a large volume of film developing work. As a result, others who wish to do their own film developing work are faced with the task of immersing the film in the various film-treating and wash solutions by hand. Such a procedure can be arduous and timeconsuming, and the work and time required keeps many persons from developing their own films. The present invention makes it possible for many additional people to do their own developing of photographic film, and it does so by providing an inexpensive, compact and automatic film developing apparatus. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive, compact and automatic film developing apparatus.

The film developing apparatus provided by the present invention is equipped with a substantially light-tight housing which has a stationary upper portion and a rotatable lower portion. The rotatable lower portion of the lighttight housing carries a number of receptacles for filmtreating solutions. A vertically movable support extends part way into the light-tight housing, and that support carries a film rack. The vertically movable support can hold the film rack in register with one of the receptacles for the film-treating solutions, and it can carry that rack down into that receptacle to immerse the film on that rack in the film-treating solution. By raising the vertically movable support, and then successively rotating the lower portion of the light-tight housing and lowering the ver tically movable support, the present invention makes it possible to immerse the film rack in the various film developing solutions of the various receptacles. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a film developing apparatus which has a vertically movable support for a film rack and which has a rotatable section of a light-tight housing to move the receptacles for the film developing solutions relative to that vertically movable support.

The vertically movable support of the film developing apparatus provided by the present invention has a vertical axis, and it is rotatable about that axis. This rotation enables that vertically movable support to immerse the film in different film-treating solutions even though the rotatable portion of the light-tight housingremains stationary. The combination of the rotatable, vertically movable support and the rotatable lower portion of the light-tight housing enables the film developing apparatus to provide a'large number of individually different sequences of film-treating immersions. For example, that I film developing apparatus can rotate the lower portion of the light-tight housing step by step until all of the solutions in the various receptacles have been brought into register with the film rack carried by the vertically mov-' able support. That film developing apparatus'can also rotate the vertically movable support to place the film rack in register with the solutions in two of the receptacles even without any rotation of the lower portion of the light-tight housing. Furthermore, the film developing apparatus provided by the present invention can interchangeably rotate the vertically movable support and the lower portion of the light-tight housing to provide any desired sequence of film treatment. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a film developing apparatus which has a rotatable support for receptacles containing film-treating solutions and which has a rotatable, vertically movable support for a film rack.

The light-tight housing of the film developing apparatus has an opening that is normally closed, and a lamp is placed adjacent to and in register with that opening. The opening is normally closed by a door, and when that door is opened and the pump is energized, the, film is given a reversal exposure. The film developing apparatus provided by the present invention automatically opens the door and energizes the lamp when the vertically movable support moves the film rack into register with the opening in the light-tight housing, thereby providing the desired reversal exposure.

A blower housing is connected to the light-tight housing of the film developing apparatus of the present in venti'on. That blower housing contains a blower that can draw air throughthe light-tight housing to dry the film. .A cover normally keeps the blower housing light-tight and keeps that housing substantially air-tight,-but that cover opens automatically when the blower is energized.

The receptacles for the film-treating solutions are lo cated'adjacent the periphery of the rotatable lower portion of the light-tight housing, and those receptacles define a central area for wash water. The vertically movable support can selectively place the film rack carried thereby in register with that central area or with one or another of the receptacles adjacent that central area. Consequently, relatively short rotations of the vertically movable support can shift the film rack between the wash water and two film-treating solutions and vice versa.

The film developing apparatus provided by the present invention has a drain, and it has a valved conduit that supplies fresh wash water. The vertically movable support is set to open the valve in that conduit whenever that vertically movable support immerses the film rack in the wash water. In this way, the film developing apparatus provided by the present invention assures full washing of the film and thereby assures minimum contamination of the film-treating solutions in the various receptacles. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a valved conduit that supplies fresh wash water, and that opens th evalve in that conduit whenever the film rack is in the wash water.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention should becomeapparent from an examination of the drawing and accompanying description.

In the drawing and accompanying description a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown and described but it is to be understood that the drawing and accompanying description are for the purpose of illustration only and do not limit the invention and that the invention will be defined by the appended claims.

In the drawing,

FIG. 1 shows a front elevational view of one form of film treating apparatus that is made in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention,

plan view of the film treating apparatus FIG. 4 is a partially broken away, partially sectioned, elevational view of a portion of the structure shown in FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a portion of the structure shown in FIG. 3, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 5-5 in FIG. 3,

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of another portion of the device shown in FIG. 3, and it is taken along the broken plane indicated by the line 6-6 in FIG. 3,

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of yet another portion of the structure shown in FIG. 3, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 77 in FIG. 3,

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of still another portion of the structure shown in FIG. 3, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 8-8 in FIG. 3,

FIG. 9 is a sectional view in plan of the structure shown in FIG. 8 after the ring thereof has been rotated one hundred and eighty degrees, and that view is taken along the plane indicated by the line 9-9 in FIG. 8,

FIG. 10 is a sectional view in plan of a portion of the structure shown in FIG. 1, and it is taken along the broken plane indicated by the line 10-10 in FIG. 19,

FIG. 11 is a front elevational view of the film cartridge used with the fihn developing apparatus of FIG. 1,

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the film cartridge of FIG. 11,

FIG. 13 is a sectional view in plan of the film cartridge of FIG. 11, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 13-13 in FIG. 11,

FIG. 14 is a sectional view in elevation, on a larger scale, of the film rack of the film cartridge of FIG. 11, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 14-14 in FIG. 12,

FIG. 15 is a cross sectional view of a light-sealing element usable with the film cartridge of FIG. 11,

FIG. 16 is a partially broken away, sectional view of a manipulator for the light-sealing element of FIG. 13,

FIG. 17 is a sectional view in plan of the film cartridge of FIG. 11, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 17-17 in FIG. 11,

FIG. 18 is a sectional view in elevation of a portion of the film cartridge, light-sealing element and manipulator of FIG. 11, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 18-18 in FIG. 17,

FIG. 19 is a side elevational view of a portion of the film treating apparatus shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 20 is a sectional view in elevation of a portion of the structure shown in FIG. 19, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 20-20 in FIG. 19,

FIG. 21 is a sectional view in elevation of the portion of structure shown in FIG. 20, and it shows that structure after the vertically movable support for the film rack has been moving downwardly.

FIG. 22 is a sectional view in plan of a portion of the film treating apparatus of FIG. 1, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 22-22 in FIG. 1,

FIG. 23 is a sectional view in plan, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of the structure shown in FIG. 22,

FIG. 24 is a side elevational view of a portion of the the film treating apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and this portion is disposed above the level of the portion shown in FIG. 19,

FIG. 25 is a sectional view in elevation of one part of the structure shown in'FIG. 24, and it is taken along the broken plane indicated by the line 25-25 in FIG. 2A,

FIG. 26 is a sectional view in elevation of part of the structure shown in FIG. 27, and it is taken along the broken plane indicated by the line 26-26 of FIG. 27, FIG. 27 is a sectional view in plan of part of the structure shown in FIG. 25, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 27-27 in FIG. 25,

FIG. 28 is a sectional view in plan of another part of the structure shown in FIG. 25, and it is taken along taken along the plane indicated by the line 23-29 in FIG. 24,

FIG. 30 is a partially sectioned front elevational view of another portion of the structure of FIG. 1,

FIG. 31 is a sectional view in plan of the structure shown in FIG. 29, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 31-31 in FIG. 29,

FIG. 32 is a sectional view in plan comparable to the view of FIG. 31, but it shows the pin in the upwardly acting thread of the shaft,

FIG. 33 is a partially sectional plan view of a portion of the film treating apparatus of FIG. 1, and it shows the water valve of that apparatus,

FIG. 34 is a sectional view in plane of the structure shown in FIG. 20, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 34-34 in FIG. 20,

FIG. 35 is a sectional view in plan of the structure shown in FIG. 21, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 35-35 in FIG. 21,

FIG. 36 is a sectional view in plan of the structure shown in FIG. 20, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 36-36 in FIG. 20,

FIG. 37 is a partially sectioned, front elevational view of a portion of the structure shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 38 is a partially sectioned, front elevational view generally comparable to that shown in FIG. 37, but it shows the stop out of the path of the rib on the vertically movable support for the film rack,

FIG. 39 is a partially sectional plan view of the structure shown in FIGS. 37 and 38,

FIG. 40 is a front elevational view on a larger scale of a part of the cam-supporting disc of FIG. 1,

FIG. 41 is a sectional view of the part of the camsupporting disc shown in FIG. 40, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 41-41 in FIG. 40,

FIGS. 42 through 48 show cams that can be mounted on the cam-supporting disc of FIG. 1,

FIG. 48 is a sectional view of another part of the camsupporting disc of FIG. 1, and it shows a stop on that cam-supporting disc,

FIG. 49 is a side elevational view of a film rack for moving picture film,

FIG. 50 is a sectional view in plan of the film rack in FIG. 49, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 50-50 in FIG. 49,

FIG. 51 is a sectional view in elevation of the center of the shaft for the film developing apparatus of FIG. 1,

FIG. 52 is a diagram of the electrical circuit for the I film treating apparatus shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 53 is a plan view of the dial and pointer of the variable speed motor for the film treating apparatus shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 54 is an elevational view of the latch shown in FIG. 8,

FIG. 55 is a sectional view through the sleeve shown in FIG. 8, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 55-55 in FIG. 9,

FIG. 56 is a view of a yoke and bar used in the film treating apparatus of FIG. 1,

FIG. 57 is a view of a portion of the yoke of FIG. 56,

FIG. 58 is a sectional view of the water valve used in the film treating apparatus of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 59 is a sectional view in plan of the upper end of a the upwardly directed thread of the shaft in FIG. 1.

bar 1% and seat in threaded openings in the upper ends of the feet 102. The other bar of the X-frame is denoted .by the numeral 164, and that bar has feet 166. Fasteners 105, shown in the form of screws, releasably connect the feet 106 to the bar 104. Removal of the fasteners 101 and 105 makes it possible to separate the feet 102 and 106 from the bars 100 and 104. This is desirable because it makes it possible to stow the base of the film developing apparatus in a small space.

A socket 108 is secured to, and projects upwardly from, the bar 100 adjacent the center of that bar. That socket has a threaded rod, not shown, on the lower end thereof that extends downwardly through an opening inthe center of the bar 104. A nut, not shown, telescopes over the lower end of that threaded rod, and that nut can be tightened to clamp the two bars 100 and 104 tightly together and to the socket 108. The bars 100 and 104 will usually be set at ninety degrees to each other to provide full support for the film developing apparatus provided by the present invention. A stem 110, shown in the form of a metal pipe or tube, releasably extends into and is held by the socket 108. A sleeve 112 telescopes over the upper end of the stem 110, and that sleeve is releasably secured to that stem by a fastener 114, shown in the form of a set screw. The sleeve 112 is pressed on, or otherwise fixedly secured to, the lower end of a hollow rod 116 shown in the form of a pipe or tube. This rod will be concentric with the stern 110 and will essentially constitute an elongation of that stem.

When the bars 100 and 104 are tightly clamped together and to socket 108, when the stem 110 is seated in the socket 108, and when the sleeve 112 is telescoped over and locked to the stem 110, a sturdy and rigid support for the film developing apparatus is provided. However, the bars 100 and 104 can be separated from the stem 110, the sleeve 112 and the rod 116 can be separated from the stem 110, and the feet 102 and 106 can readily be separated from the bars 100 and 104. In this way, the film developing apparatus can be stowed in a small space; and one embodiment of the present invention hasbeen stowed and carried in a case about the size of a piece of hand luggage.

A platform 118 is suitably secured to the upper end of the rod 116, as by having a threaded recess in the underside thereof into which the threaded upper end of the rod 116 can extend and be held. An opening 119, that is smaller than the internal diameter of the rod 116, extends downwardly from the upper side of platform 11S and communicates with the said threaded recess. The opening 119 communicates with the center of the hollow rod 116.

The platform 118 has a second and larger opening 121 therein, and that opening is spaced to the right of the opening 119, as the platform 118 is viewed in FIG. 22.

A sleeve 120 with a radially-extending flange intermediate the top and bottom thereof is telescoped through the open-- ing 121 in the platform 11-8. The flange on the sleeve 120 abuts the under side of the platform 118 and is held in engagement with that platform by fasteners, shown in the form of screws. A cup-like closure 122 is provided for the lower end of the sleeve 120; and a fastener 124, shown in the form of a screw, is used to secure the closure 122 to the sleeve 120. The engagement between the sleeve 120 and the closure 122 will be so intimate that a liquid-tight engagement will be provided; A threaded boss 126 is provided on the lower end of the closure 122, and that boss has a central opening 128 therethrough. A discharge tube 130 is located above the level of the boss 126, and that discharge tube projects radially outwardly from the closure 122. The discharge tube 130 is in communication with the lower end of the sleeve 120, as indicated particularly in FIG. 7. y

A bearing ring 134 abuts the upper end of the sleeve 120, and the inside diameter of that ring is equal to the inside diameter of the sleeve 120. A set screw 136 is seated in a threadedopening in the ring 134, and that set screw locks the bearing ring 134 to a sleeve 132. The.

lower end of that sleeve extends into, and can rotate relative to, the sleeve 120. The upper end of sleeve 132 ex- I tends upwardly from the bearing ring 134.

A bevel gear 138 telescopes down over the upper end of the sleeve 132 and rests upon the upper end of the bearing ring 134. The engagement between the inner periphery of the bevel gear 138 and the outer periphery of the sleeve 132 is loose enough so the bevel gear 138 can rotate freely relative to the sleeve 132 and to the bearing ring 134.

A flanged sleeve 142 telescopes down over the upper end of the sleeve 132; and a pin 133 carried by sleeve 132 extends into a slot 143 in flanged sleeve 142, as shown particularly in FIGS. 7 and 22. The pin and slot hold sleeves 132 and 142 for conjoint rotation while permitting the sleeve 142 to move downwardly relative to the sleeve 132. A cork disc of annular configuration is cemented or otherwise fixedly secured to the lower face of the flange on the sleeve 142. That cork disc serves as a clutch facing for the flanged sleeve 142, and it engages the upper face of the bevel gear 138. A spring 144, in the form of a helical compression spring, bears against the upper end of the flanged sleeve 142'and biases that sleeve downwardly into engagement with the bevel gear 138.

The numeral 146 denotes a plate with a downwardly depending sleeve portion; and that downwardly depending sleeve portion telescopes over the upper end of the sleeve 132. Internal screw threads are provided at the upper end of the sleeve portion of plate 146, and those screw threads receive external screw threads on the upper end of the sleeve 132. The plate 146 underlies and supports a cylindrical tank 148 that is made to hold liquid. The sleeve 132, the plate 146 and the tank 148 are connected together to rotate as a unit. The weight of the sleeve 132, of the plate 146, and of the tank 148 and its contents help the spring 144 urge the cork disc 140 against the bevel gear 138.

An annular overflow passage 150 is provided on the exterior of the cylindrical tank 148. That overflow passage extends around the entire periphery of the tank 148, and it is placed in communication with that tank by openings 152. An overflow tube 154 has an opening 156 which is in register with one of the openings 152 in the overflow passage 150; and that overflow tube extends upwardly from an opening 158 in the bottom of the cylindrical tank 143. The overflow tube 154 also extends downwardly from the opening 158 and then extends radially inwardly to an opening 160 in the sleeve portion of the plate 146. Water tight joints are provided between the tube 154, the tank 148 and the plate 146 adjacent the openings 158 and 160. The tube 154 also extends into an opening 162 in the sleeve 132. Consequently,'theoverflow tube 154 places the annular overflow passage 150 in communication with the sleeve 132.

A flat ring 164 is disposed on the bottom of the tank 148, and that ring projects up a short distance above the level of that bottom. A larger diameter ring 166 is secured to the wall of the tank 148 at a point a short distance below theopen upper end of that tank. The ring 166 has a number of arcuate notches formed in it, and those notches are circumferentially spaced in the tank 148. A number of bosses are formed on the bottom of the plate 146, and those bosses are generally in register with the notches 168 in the ring 166. Each of the bosses 170 has a threaded recess 172, and those recesses receive threaded studs 176 on the bottoms of generally cylindrical receptacles 174. The threaded studs 176 make it possible to hold the receptacles 174 rigid relativeto the tank 148; because as the receptacles are rotated into assembled relation with the tank, the inner portions of those receptacles engage the ring 164 and cause the receptacles to tilt outwardly until the outer portions thereof engage and seat solidly in the notches 168 of ring 166. In this W y,,the

I receptacles are positively positioned in the tank 148.

and the joint between sleeve 178 and tank 148 will be liquid-tight The upper end of that sleeve is fixedly secured to, but extends above, a notch in the ring 166. An internal shoulder 18 2 is formed, at the bottom of the sleeve 178, by an inwardly directed flange .184 in that sleeve. The upper end of the sleeve 178 extends above the level of the overflow openings 152 in the tank 148, and thus that sleeve will not permit liquid to leak out of that tank. A portion of the bottom edge of the sleeve 178 is cut away to define a semi-cylindrical skirt 17 9.

A pivot bracket 186 which is provided with two vertically spaced, horizontal cars is mounted on that portion of sleeve 17 8 which extends below the bottom of the tank 148, and it is adjacent one end of the semicylindrical skirt 178. A pin 188 extends through those ears and serves as a pivot for a ring 190. That ring has an inwardly directed flange 192 which defines an internal shoulder adjacent the bottom of that ring. That ring also has a semi-cylindrical Wall 194 that projects upwardly from its upper edge. That semi-cylindrical wall has one end thereof adjacent the pivot bracket 136.

The ring 198 is secured to the pin 188 by ears 196 which are provided with openings that receive the pin 188. A helical spring 198 is telescoped' over the pin 188 after that pin has been passed downwardly through the opening in the upper ear of pivot bracket 186 and through the opening in the upper ear 196, but before that pin has been insented in the opening in the lower ear of the pivot bracket 186. The spring 198 bears against the pivot bracket 186 and also bears against the ring 19 8, thereby biasingthe ring 190 out of register with the sleeve 178. However, that spring can yield to permit rotation of the ring 190 away from the sleeve 178. Whenever the ring 191) is in register with the sleeve 178, the skirt 179 on that sleeve will be contiguous with the semi-cylindrical wall 194 on that ring. That skirt and wall will overlie the horizontal joint between the sleeve 179 and the ring 190 and will prevent the passage of light therethrough.

A generally L-shaped pivot bracket 200 is mounted on that portion of the sleeve 178 which is below the bottom of the tank 148, and that bracket is approximately opposite the pivot bracket 186. The pivot bracket 280 supports a pivot 202; and a generally U-shaped latch 2G4 rotates about that pivot. That latch selectively holds or releases a radially extending ear 206 on the ring 190, and thus controls whether the ring 190 is held in register with or is permitted to rotate away from the sleeve 178. A helical spring 283 encircles the pivot 282 and bears against the latch 204 and also against the bracket 200, thereby biasing the latch 204 into position to hold the ear 286.

An elongated pin 208 is held for vertical reciprocation within a tube 214 carried by the tank 148; and the bottom of that pin rests upon a horizontal flange of latch 204, as indicated particularly in FIG. 8. A stop 210 is mounted on the pin 208 adjacent the lower end of that pin, and that stop is normally biased up into engagement with the lower end of the tube 214 by the spring 203 which biases the latch 204 for upward rotation. However, the spring 203 can yield to permit downward movement of the rod 283 and of the stop 210 thereon.

A yieldable band 218, of compressible material such as cloth or the like, is suitably affixed to the exterior of the tank 148 above the level of the overflow passage 150. That band has part thereof folded under, as indicated particularly in FIG. 7, and thus the lower portion of the folded band projects outwardly a short distance beyond the upper portion of that band. The band can readily be connected to the tank 148; and it will prevent the ingress of light between the upper end of tank 148 and the bottom of a covertherefor.

An elongated tube 220 is located at the geometric center of the sleeve 132, and that tube extends upwardly through an opening 222 at the center of the bottom of tank 148. The upper end of tube 222 is provided with a circular flange, and that flange is suitably secured to the bottom of tank 148 to provide a liquid-tight engagement between that tube and that tank. The lower end of the tube 226- extends downwardly through the opening 128 in the boss 126 on the closure 122. The engagement between the opening 123 in the boss 126 and the tube 220 will be loose enough to permit the tank 148 and the tube 229 to rotate relative to the closure 122. A packing gland 224 is provided with internal threads that telescope over the externally threaded lower end of the boss 126 on the closure 122; and that gland will receive packing, not shown, which can maintain a liquid-tight joint between tube 220 and boss 126 while permitting rotation of that tube relative to the gland 224. The lower end of the packing gland 224 is formed so a hose or flexible conduit, such as the hose 659, can be telescoped over it. The hose 659 is resilient, and it has an initial inner diameter that is smaller than the outer diameter of the lower end of the packing gland 224. Consequently, that hose can form a liquid-tight joint with that gland when it is slipped over the lower end of that gland.

A number of projections 226 are provided on the bottom of the tank 148, and those projections extend outwardly and downwardly from the bottom edge of that tank. As emphasized in FIG. 25, those projections are L-shaped in cross section and have a vertically depending portion.

The numeral 228 denotes a generally rectangular bracket which is secured to the platform 118 by fasteners, shown as being screws. That bracket is taller than it is wide, and it defines a large, open central area. An opening 229 is provided in one of the sides thereof, as shown particularly in FIG. 26. The top of the bracket 228 has a circular opening therein, and the bottom of that bracket has a circular opening therein, and those openings are in register with each other to receive a cylindrical pin 230. That pin has a collar 232 mounted on it, and that collar is locked to the pin 230 by a fastener 234, shown in the form of a pin. A second collar 236 is mounted on the rod 230 by a fastener 238, shown in the form of a pin; and the collar 236 is located above the collar 232. The collar 236 can abut the underside of the top of bracket 228 and thereby limit upward movement of the rod 232 relative to that bracket. The collar 232 receives the upper end of a helical compression spring 242 which has its lower end abutting the bottom of the bracket 228; and that spring biases the rod 230 upwardly relative to the bracket 228. As a result, the collar 236 is normally held in abutting relation with the top of bracket 228; but the spring 242 can yield to permit downward movement of the rod 230 relative to bracket 228. A slot 240 is formed in the rod 230, and that slot extends axially of that rod. The slot 240 is intermediate the collars 282 and 236, and it is in register with the slot 229.

A bracket 244 is secured to that side of bracket 228 which has the slot 229; and the bracket 244 has a vertically directed slot 246 shown particularly in FIG. 26. The slots 22*) and 246 are contiguous, but the upper end of slot 246 extends upwardly above the upper end of slot 229. A second slot 248, that is narrow and horizontal, is formed in the upper end of the bracket 244, as shown in FIG. 26. The slots 246 and 248 are in communication with each other.

The numeral 250 denotes a bearing bracket which is secured to the upper side of platform 118 a'short distance to the left of the right hand end of that bracket, as that bracket is viewed in FIG..22. The numeral 252 denotes a second bearing bracket which is secured to the upper side of platform 118, and that second bracket is disposed to the left of the bracket 250. The brackets 25%) and 252 rotatably support a shaft 254 which has its 1 axis parallel to the axis of the platform 118.

A sprocket pinion 256 is fixedly secured to the shaft 254 by a fastener, shown in the form of a pin; and that form of a pin.

1 l axial movement of shaft 322. The other end of that shaft extends into an opening in the bearing bracket 328.

A worm wheel 332 is secured to the shaft 322 adjacent the bearing bracket 316, and that worm wheel meshes with the worm gear 318. Consequently, rotation of shaft 254 will cause rotation of shaft 322. However, the worm gears 258 and 318 and the worm wheels 314 and 332 reduce the rate of rotation of shaft 322 to but a fraction of the rate of rotation of shaft 254. A circular plate 334 is secured to the shaft 322 adjacent the collar 326, and it is secured to that shaft by a fastener, shown in the The plate 334 has a small diameter externally threaded annular portion extending outwardly beyond the left hand end of shaft 322, and it has a larger diameter cylindrical shoulder 335. The externally threaded small diameter annular portion of plate 334 receives and holds the internally threaded hub of a plate 336; and a cylindrical recess 337 in plate 336 telescopes over the shoulder 335 on plate 334. The plates 334 and 336 serve as clamps for a cam-supporting disc 338 of circular configuration. That cam-supporting disc has a central opening which enables it to telescope over the threaded small diameter annular portion of plate 334 and to seat on the shoulder 335 of that plate. The camsupporting disc 338 has a large number of radiallydirected slots 339 extending inwardly from the outer periphery of that disc. The slots 339- facilitates the releasable securement of a number of slotted cams to the disc 338; and those cams are shown in FIGS. 42-47. The manner in which the cams are mounted on the disc 338 is emphasized in FIGS. 40 and 41. The releasable securement of the cams to the cam-supporting disc 338 makes it possible for just one cam-supporting disc and a few cams to provide a great variety of individually different camming cycles.

The numeral 346 denotes a plate which is suitably secured to the rod 116 by the U-shaped spacers shown in FIG. 10, and those spacers are preferably welded to the rod 116 and to the plate 346. Two such spacers are provided; one being adjacent the upper edge of plate 346 and the other being adjacent the lower edge of that plate.

The plate 346 extends tangentially from the rod 116, and it has its long axis horizontal while having its short axis vertical. That plate supports a bearing bracket 348 which is L-shaped in cross section. A bearing sleeve 34-9 is provided on the horizontally directed portion of that bracket, and that bearing sleeve confines the lower end of a vertically directed shaft 350. The upper end of that shaft is confined by a bearing sleeve 352 which extends upwardly from the upper side of the platform 118. An axially directed groove 351 is provided in the shaft 350, as emphasized in FIGS. 25 and 28, and that groove is disposed a short distance below the platform 118.

A worm gear 354 is mounted on the upper end of the shaft 350, and that gear'engages and drives the worm wheel 262 mounted on the horizontal shaft 254. Consequently, rotation of shaft 350 causes rotation of shafts 254, 312 and 322. A sprocket pinion 356 is mounted on the lower end of that shaft 350, as emphasized in FIG. 19; and that pinion is suitably secured to the shaft 350 by a fastener, shown in the form of a pin. A large diameter sprocket gear 358 is secured to the lower end of the shaft 350 at a point immediately below the sprocket pinion 356; and the sprocket gear 358 is secured to the shaft 350 by a fastener, shown in the form of a pin.

An L-shaped mounting bracket 360 is secured to the plate 346; and themounting brackets 348 and 360 are oppositely disposed of that plate as shown in FIG. 10. A variable speed motor 362 is supported on the bracket 360', and the shaft of that motorcarries a sprocket pinion 364. That sprocket pinion is in register with, the sprocket gear 358, and a sprocket chain 366 interconnects that pinion and gear for conjoint rotation.

A vertically directed sleeve 368 is suitably secured to the outer end of the plate 346 by spacers 367. Those spacers are preferably welded to the plate 346 and to the sleeve 368; and two such spacers are used, one being adjacent the upper end of the plate 346 and the other being adjacent the lower end of that plate. A bushing 370, shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, is telescoped within the sleeve 368; and it is held in assembled relation with that sleeve by a press lit. The upper end of the bushing projects a short distance above the upper end of sleeve 368 to support the inner race of an anti-friction bearing 398.

A ring 372 telescopes over the up er end of sleeve 368, and it is secured to that upper end by a fastener 376, shown as a set screw. The ring 372 has an L-shaped flange 374 thereon, and that flange is generally semicircular in plan view, as shown by FIG. 34.

An elongated cylindrical shaft 378 has the lower end thereof guided by, and extending downwardly through, the bushing 370; and that shaft is rotatable relative to that bushing. The shaft 378 has a helical thread 379 which is formed to provide a downward thrust; and it has a helical thread 377 which is formed to provide an upward thrust. The thread 379 is best shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, and the thread 377 is best shown in FIG. 4.

The lower end of the shaft 378 has a small diameter sprocket gear 380 secured to it by a fastener, shown in the form of a pin. That gear is in register with the sprocket pinion 356, as shown by FIG. 19, and a sprocket chain 382 extends between and connects pinion 356 with gear 380. A lever 384 is rotatably secured to the L-shaped bracket 348 by a fastener 386, shown in the form of a screw. That lever carries a pin 388' which bears against the sprocket chain 382 and serves to keep that chain taut.

The numeral 330 denotes a generally triangular, horizontally directed plate which has an arcuate base and which has an arcuate apex, as shown in FIG. 3. The two sides and the apex of the plate 390 have the edges thereof bent upwardly to form a continuous upwardlydirected flange. The arcuate base line has a radius of curvature complementary to the radius of curvature of the tank 148, and that arcuate base is held closely adjacent the outer periphery of the tank 148 at a point above the annular overflow passage 150. An arcuate, upwardly directed flange 391 is provided on the plate 390' adjacent the arcuate base of that plate, and that flange extends toward but stops short of the upturned edges on the sides of the triangular plate 390, as shown in FIG. 3. The flange 391 is immediately adjacent the yielding band 218 on the tank 148, and it coacts with that band to prevent the passage of light therebetween. The generally triangular plate 390 has an opening 393 through it, and that opening accommodates a spacing rod 392 which extends between the plate 390 and the platform 118. A second spacing rod 394 is seated in an opening 395 in the triangular plate 390 and extends to the platform 118. Those spacing rods hold the tn'angular plate rigidly spaced in position above the platform 118.

A generally vertically directed actuator 396 is secured to, and depends downwardly from, the bottom of the generally triangular plate 390, as shown in FIG. 1. The lower end of that actuator is pointed, and that actuator is spaced a short distance to the right of the axis of sleeve 368, as that actuator and sleeve are viewed in FIG. 1.

The anti-friction bearing 3% has the outer race thereof underlying and supporting a collar 400 which is fixedly secured to the shaft 378 by a fastener 402, shown as a set screw. An elongated tube or sleeve 404 telescopes down over the upperend of the shaft 37 8, and the lower end of that sleeve normally rests on the collar .00 as shown in FIG. 20. A short bushing 401 is fixedly pressed into the sleeve 404 adjacent the lower end of that sleeve, and that bushing has an inner diameter just slightly larger .than the diameter of shaft 378. An inner sleeve 405 is telescoped within the sleeve 404; and the outer diameter 'of sleeve 405 is small enough relative to the inner diameter of sleeve 404 to permit relative rotation of the sleeves 404 and 405. The shaft 378 extends through, and rotates relative to, the sleeve 405. The sleeve '405 is disposed approximatelymidway of the length of the sleeve 404.

13 A second, and longer, bushing 409is fixedly pressed into the sleeve 404, and that second bushing is close to the upper end of sleeve 404. The shaft 378 extends upwardly through and above the bushing, as shown in FIG. 4.

The sleeve 404 has an opening 407 therein of generally rectangular configuration, and that opening is disposed approximately midway of the length of the sleeve 404. The inner sleeve 405 is disposed immediately adjacent the opening 407 in the slwve 404; and an opening 403 in the inner sleeve 405 is in register with the opening 407 in the sleeve 404.

An elongated, axially directed rib 406 is provided on the outer surface of the sleeve 404, and that rib starts at a point above the level of the opening 407 and extends down to a point ,a short distance above a collar 408. That collar is telescoped upwardly over the lower end of the sleeve 404, and it is secured to that sleeve by a fastener 410, shown as a set screw. A pin 412 is carried by the collar 408, and that pin projects radially outwardly from that collar.

A bracket 414 is secured to the sleeve 404 at a point below the collar 408; and that bracket has two parallel walls, as shown in FIGS. 35 and 36. The bracket 414 has a hole 415 in it, and that hole is in register with an opening in the lower end of the sleeve 404, as shown in FIGS. 20,21, 35 and 36. The bracket 414 is secured to the sleeve 404 by fasteners 416, shown as screws. A

pivot 418 extends between the upperends of the parallel walls of the bracket 414, and that pivot rotatably supports an L-shaped lever 420. A leaf spring 422 is connected to the vertical portion of the L-shaped lever 420,

the vertical portion of the L-shaped lever 420 with a pin 426 that extends through the opening 415 in the bracket 414 and through the openings in sleeve 404 and bushing 401 that are in register with opening 415. That pin selectively enters the thread 379' of the shaft 378; and whenever that pin has the inner end thereof lodged within that thread while the shaft 378 is rotating, that pin will force the bracket 414 and the sleeve 404 to move downwardly relative to the shaft 378.

A helical spring 428 encircles the pin 426, and one end thereof bears against the lever 420 while the other end bears against the bracket 414. Hence, the spring 228 biases the lever 420 to move the pin 426 out of engageinent with the thread 379. A pivot 430' extends between the lower ends of the parallel walls of the bracket 414; and a latch 432 is rotatably supported by that pivot. The latch 432 is biased for counter-clockwise rotation in FIGS. 20 and 21 by a helical spring 434 but that spring will yield to permit rotation of that latch in the clockwise direction. A stop 436 receives one end of the spring 434, and the other end of that spring bears against the latch 432 to bias that latch for rotation to the latching position shown in FIG. 21. However, when the outer end of the latch 432 moves into engagement with the L-shaped flange 374 on ring 372, as it will when the sleeve 404 moves downwardly to the position of FIG. 20, the latch 432 will move out of latching engagement with lever 420.

The numeral 438 denotes a generally rectangular plate which is arcuate in plan, as shown in FIGS. 31 and 32; and that plate is secured to the inner sleeve 405 so it is in register with the opening 407 in the sleeve 404. The arcuate plate 438 is almost as tall as the opening 407, but it is only about one third as wide as that opening. The plate 438 has an opening 440 through it, and that opening is contiguous with and aligned with the opening 403 in the inner sleeve 405. A horizontally flanged bracket 442 is secured to the .arcuate plate 438, and that bracket supports a vertically direct-ed pivot 444. A lever 446 is held for rotation about the pivot 444'; and that lever has one arm which projects to the right, and it has a second arm which projects toward the vertical wall,

of the bracket 442. The two arms of the lever 446 are substantially at right angles to each other, and both lie in thesarne horizontal plane. The free end of the second arm of lever 446 has an upwardly directed ear, and that car has a rounded button 452 on it. In addition, the second arm of lever 446 has a depending ear 454 thereon at a point spaced a short distance from the upwardly directed ear of that arm. A pin 448 connects the said one arm of lever 446 with the outer end of a rod 450; and the inner end of that rod extends through opening in the vertical wall of the bracket 442. The downwardly directed car 454 on the second arm of lever 446 selectively engages an arm of bracket 442 and thereby limits clockwise rotation of that lever, as that lever is viewed in FIGS. 31 and 32.

The bracket 442 also carries a vertical pivot 456, and that pivot rotatably supports a' lever 458. That lever has a generally triangular, horizontally directed top, has

an arcuate ear depending downwardly from the free end of that top,-and has a horizontally directed arm that is displaced a short distance below the level of that top and that extends to the left in FIGS. 31 and 32. The downwardly depending ear of lever 458 carries a rounded button 460 which confronts the rounded button 452 on the lever 446. A helical compression spring 462 has the opposite ends thereof telescoped over the rounded buttons 452 and 460, and that spring biases those buttons away from each other. In doing so, the spring 462 ccacts with the levers 446 and 458 to provide a snap action toggle.

The horizontally directed arm of lever 458 carries a pivot 464 that rotatably secures a pin 466 to that The free end of that pin selectively extends through the opening 440 in the plate 438 and through the opening 403 in the inner sleeve 405 to lodge in the helical thread 377 of the shaft 3'78. A vertically directed stop 468, in the form of a pin, is carried by the bracket 442, as shown by FIGS. 31 and 32; and that stop limits counter-clockwise rotation of the lever 458. In doing so, that stop makes certain that the inner end of the pin 466 can not be pulled out of the openings 403 and 440 in sleeve 405 and plate 438 respectively. I

The bracket 442 also has upwardly directed portions that support a horizontal shaft 470, as shown in FIG. 29'. That shaft is parallel to, and disposedabove the level of, the pin 450. A cam follower 472, which has the form of a thick disc with a tangential arm, is secured to the outer end of the shaft 470 by a fastener 474, shown as a set screw. A collar 476 is mounted on the shaft 472, and that collar is held against rotation relative to that shaft by a fastener 478, shown as a set screw. A helical spring 480 encircles the shaft 470; andone end of that spring bears against the fastener 478 while the other end of that spring bears against the bracket 442. The spring 480 biases the shaft 470 for rotation in the counter-clockwise direction, as that shaft is viewed in FIG. 29; and that spring also biases that shaft for axial movement to the right, as that shaft is viewed in FIG. 24. However, that spring can yield to permit clockwise rotation of that shaft and also to permitshifting of that shaft to the left.

A lever 482 has'one end thereof fixedly secured to the right hand end of shaft 470, as shown in FIG. 24; and F that lever depends vertically downwardly from that shaft.

adjacent the stop 485, and the spring 480 will normally hold that lever against that stop, a space is provided intermediate the lever 482 and the step 484; but when the cam follower 472 rotates in the clockwise direction, the 

